Saturday's Meetings Ascot Flat 6 Races 12-50-3:45p.m. Cork Flat 8 Races 1:35-5:25p.m. Haydock Flat 7 Races 1:50-5:10p.m. Newmarket Flat 7 Races 2:15-5:30p.m. Kilbeggan(E) N/H 8 Races 4:45-8:15p.m. Lingfield(E) A/W 7 Races 5:05-8:05p.m. Ayr(E) Flat 6 Races 5:55-8:30p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
Not much time free on Saturday, so my bets went on early today. I went against Value Theory last time and it backfired, as she was again well supported and won nicely. She had been popular on debut but managed only third so it would have been a relief to her supporters to see her convert on her second run. It was a taking performance and I would be confident if it were any other trainer than Mark Johnston, as he seems so inconsistent with promising looking juveniles. Still, with Wild Beauty getting a thumping from Inspiral last time and already having had four starts, she may be vulnerable. I played Value Theory at 5/1 but she's been backed since and may end up favourite. None of the other fillies really appeal to me and I think she can win a weakish looking Sweet Solera. Over at Haydock Real World is trying his hand on ground he has not faced before. He made a mockery of the Royal Hunt Cup in storming away with the competitive Handicap and then followed up in Listed Company. His mark has improved to Group level. He faces some veterans here and despite the going being a bit of an unknown, his rapid improvement and unexposed profile make him hard to oppose. 2/1 is not a big price but he looked like a horse capable of making his mark at quite a high level this year. The third and final selection is also at Haydock. The 1.50 race is short on real talent and I felt top-weight Bowland Park could score off 84. Successful at Epsom the time before in a tight finish I feel he is entitled to come forward following that win, which came after an absence and gelding operation. Up 4 lbs for that it can be hoped that he will have progressed from that run in a race a bit short of obvious candidates. 1.50 Haydock Bowland Park 3/1 4.10 Haydock Real World 2/1 2.50 Newmarket Value Theory 5/1 Three singles and a win treble. Good luck to all Saturday players.
Another good write up Grendel but I can't believe I'm going to do this but I'm actually going to go against one of your fancies. In the 4.10 the Fav, Real World could bolt up but like you say he's encountering different ground conditions today. With it being soft already and a lot more rain to come it'll more than likely be heavy going by then. I was tempted to go for Euchen Glen but in the end I've gone for FANCY MAN 16/1. Only a 3yo with improvement to come he will certainly handle these conditions and is also 2/2 at Haydock. I'm sure we will see some non runners but with 9 currently in the race I'm going EW and see how we get on.
Relatively poor racing today These would have been my Racing League selections Under Oath 1415Nt Buxted Too 1510A Maud Gonne Spirit 1517C South Audley 1525Nt Dancing Harry 1730Nt Loquace 1805L
As predicted 2 non runners notably the Fav, Real World. Mine now 7/1 Another non runner, down to 6 now. Skybet going Evs on FM finishing in first 3, I'm having some of that
I gave not-so-Glorious Goodwood a miss because of the soft ground, missing out on Lady Bowthorpe finally getting her head in front after two seconds burdened with my money. A couple of days ago I was hopeful for Haydock today but it is so close to Manchester that when I saw the weather forecast, I knew I was going to be giving it a miss. It is hard to remember the last time they had the word ‘firm’ in the going near Newton le Willows. I gave up on the Mickey Mouse event at Ascot years ago but I hope that Popmaster goes well in the last, although I am probably a year out. The card at HQ looks quite disappointing, although the man to follow is clearly William Buick with several favourites such as Wild Beauty in the Sweet Solera, Fall Of Rome in the nursery and Quintillus in the handicap as well as other good chances. Having noted the abundant chances for Buick, I am going to oppose him in the Sweet Solera. Mark Johnston’s filly VALUE THEORY put in a fetching performance last time over course and distance winning a novices’ event and I think she can improve enough here as the Listed race form of Wild Beauty and Sunstrike is what she has to beat in an otherwise ordinary field, although Andrew Balding’s Majestic Glory could be overpriced.
I note that 3 more horses went through the sales ring from Seven Barrows this week. All comparatively cheap as well. Miss Farage (£2,000), Whitlock (£2,500) and Laughing Luis (£3,750). Restocking, new inmates, the forum's favourite trainer wants HIS championship back...and all that.
With Real World a non-runner I have stuck Cold Stare in instead. The O'Meara horse was poor last time but that was on fast ground and he has won three times on today's soft going. He has won from marks of 89 and 90 in the past and now lines up off 85, so he is capable of putting a good run in from that mark in a race where he has a touch of class as the top weight. I have seen no tips at all for him this morning but I expect him to go close with conditions more to his liking today. 3.00 Haydock Cold Stare 9/2
Scoop 6/ew Lucky 63/Acca: 1:25 Ascot - Indianapolis 4/1 2:00 Ascot - Sam Cooke 10/3 2:35 Ascot - Raising Sand 6/1 2:50 Newmarket - Majestic Glory 8/1 3:10 Ascot - Star Caliber 9/2 3:45 Ascot - Dream Composer 11/4 Also done ew single on Nurseclaire 33/1 in the 2:50 Newmarket and reverse forecast with Majestic Glory.
Just a modest bet for me today, Dashing Roger in the 14:35 at Ascot. Carrying a lot of weight for such a small horse, but makes up for this in courage, judging by his gutsy performance when winning a recent race at Sandown. Distance and good-to-soft ground should suit him admirably. Will be ridden by young Cieren Fallon for the William Stone yard. 9/2 freely-available at time of writing. Best of luck today guys if you have a punt!
Majestic Glory was a good winner, Smokey, bad luck another one, or even two winners could not back it up for you.
Value Theory let me down for the treble today. I suppose it's my own fault for trusting bogey trainer Mark Johnston. She went from the front as expected but could not kick away and ended up being third. A slightly disappointing effort and I am kicking myself for playing early at the 5/1 odds, because if she had opened at 3/1 I would probably have left the race alone or played Wild Beauty instead. It didn't matter anyway because Wild Beauty only managed 2nd place. The other two picks, Cold Stare and Bowland Park won and made it a decent day. I later played on one of my previous selections in the Nursery. I had noted last time:- "Neptune Legend was rousted up to try to get to the inside but he didn't have the pace and the door was shut in his face. He had problems getting involved thereafter but turning in he started to close and was nearest at the finish in a close up 4th. I think he would have been second in another 100 yards, as he closed to within a neck and half a length of the odds-on favourite." He was upped to 7F today and having felt he would have been runner up last time, I thought he was worth a play today. He made all and held on by a half length at 7/1. I didn't think he enjoyed Lingfield last time. Can't complain but the first three as a treble would have been nice, so to paraphrase Meatloaf:- "Two out of three ain't bad but it's f***ing annoying in a treble" Well done to all scorers today.
